Mr. Chair, we are going to support this bill. It is not that it goes too far or not far enough. We just do not believe in the principle of a mandatory minimum sentence at all. It has nothing to do with the 18 months, even for a third offence and even though the prosecutor has the choice of proceeding by summary conviction or by indictment.
We are consistent. We have said this often: no study shows that mandatory minimum sentences are effective. That is why we would like to remove this provision from the bill, but it does not affect our support of the bill.